This lesson provides an Introduction to farm mechanization. The lesson intended learning outcomes are to; Identify the concept of farm mechanization, Identify the importance of farm, mechanization, Describe the local and world status and need for farm mechanization, and Recognize the history of farm mechanization in Sri Lanka.

1. Farm
Mechanization
Dr. Jayaruwani Fernando
Ph.D., M.S., M.Phil. B.Sc.
(Agriculture)

2. Introduction to Farm Mechanization
Lesson ILOs:
• Identify the concept of farm mechanization
• Identify the importance of farm mechanization
• Describe the local and world status and need of farm mechanization
• Recognize the history of farm mechanization in Sri Lanka
Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

3. Population statistics - Sri Lanka
• 9.87million (1960)
• 21.9 million (2020)
 Increased 2.2 times
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

4. Total world population
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

5. Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)
– Sri Lanka
• Agricultural sector
contributes about 7% to
the national GDP
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

6. Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)
- world
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

7. Declining farm sizes in Sri Lanka, 1960-2002
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

8. Agricultural development goals in changing world
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Food production and availability
Agricultural productivity
Farmers’ incomes (particularly those of
smallholders)
Employment
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Poverty reduction
Adequate nutrition
Functioning food value chains
Environmental sustainability
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Gender equality and equity
2021 International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

9. • Mechanization involved the replacement of simple hand tools and
human power by more complicated machinery powered by animals,
fossil fuels, and electricity.
• The application of farm power to appropriate tools, implements, and
machines – “farm mechanization”
• Essential agricultural input
Farm Mechanization
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

10. Importance of Farm Mechanization
• Potential to expand the area under cultivation
• Ability to increase the land productivity
• Ability to perform operations at the right time
• Multifunctionality
• Compensation for seasonal labor shortages
• Reduce drudgery associated with the use of human muscle power
for tasks
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

11. Factors weakening the
demand and supply of
Farm Machinery
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

12. Potential challenges
• Affordability
• Availability
• Lack of farmer skills
• Constrains within the private sector
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

13. Current concepts
Green Revolution
The Green Revolution transformed the agricultural system in the 20th Century.
It shifted farm methods from a system of small farms relying mainly on human
labor and with relatively low fossil fuel inputs to a system of large industrial
operations with fewer people and much more machinery. It increased food
production dramatically through new management techniques, mechanization,
the introduction of fertilizers, irrigation, and improved crop varieties. Ever
since then, farmers have been able to feed many more people.
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

14. Agriculture 4.0
Smart Farm (Agriculture 4.0)
Small scale farm (conventional agriculture)
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

15. History of Mechanization Evolution in Sri Lanka
• Pre-1935 period - mechanization was limited to the processing of
plantation crops in the WZ
• 1935 to 1970 - DZ irrigation systems were rehabilitated, and
farmers were resettled in those areas
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

16. Overall trends
Variable 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
4WTs
Introduced and imported since late 1940s, continuing today.
Since 1980s, have been used to plow other filed crops field as well.
2 WTs n.a. Sri Lankan-designed British Landmaster introduced in later 1960s
Threshers
(rice)/winnowers
n.a.
2WT-driven threshers for paddy introduced in 1970s
Threshers (other
field crops)
n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
In early 2000s, green gram and
maize threshing machines
introduced
Combine harvesters n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Introduced for
paddy
Water pumps n.a.
Water pumps mainly driven by 2WT engines, introduced in 1970s and used extensively
Since 2000, water pumps were introduced for other filed crops
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

17. Labor and machinery costs for selected crops, Sri Lanka, 1979/1980-2013
(Rs. Per acre)
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

18. Annual sales of farm machinery, Sri Lanka, 2011/2012-
2013/2014
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

19. Paddy Cultivation in Sri Lanka: Case Study Anuradhapura District
June to September 2018
220 paddy cultivation farmers
Reference: Gamlath, R., Gunathilke, H., & Chamara, A. (2018). A Study on the Current Status of Mechanization of Paddy Cultivation in Sri Lanka: Case of Anuradhapura
District. In Proceedings of 17th Agricultural Research Symposium (Vol. 129, p. 133).
Mechanization requirement
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

20. Research and Development
• Main aim - to develop equipment that is suitable for varying
production environments in Sri Lanka
• FMRC-responsibilities included machinery design and development,
machinery testing and evaluation, field trials and experiments,
machinery extension evaluation, and machinery production
• NERDC
• Universities
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)

21. Summary - Farm mechanization
• Application of engineering and technology in farm production
• Ensure timeliness of filed operations
• Improves farm crop productivity
• Reduce crop losses and improves quality of harvested crop
• Reduce human drudgery
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Dr. (Ms.) Jayaruwani Fernando, Ph.D. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), M.S. (Industrial and Ag. Technology), M.Phil. (Ag. & Biosystems Engineering), B.Sc. (Agriculture)